The first Minuteman
ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile) sites were being built around Malmstrom AFB, Montana in 1962 under the command of the
Strategic Air Command (SAC).

The Strategic Air
Command (SAC) began getting helicopters in the early 1960's.H-19's were the first helicopters used for
the SAC missile support. The helicopters would carry supplies and parts to
distant sites for timely repair or replacement of parts. They also transported
operations and security personnel.

In
Feb 1963, two CH-3B’s from the Texas Tower operation
at Otis AFB, Mass, were sent TDY to Malmstrom AFB,
MT. The Minuteman missile silo electronic security was not working, so security
was being accomplished by Air Police guards being placed on every missile site!
These guards were in the open and so needed to be rotated in shifts resulting
in millions of miles driven per month with an accident rate the highest in AF.
The two CH-3Bs became airborne buses making these personnel transfers more
efficient. Over the first five months over 7,000 passengers were carried plus
cargo.

In
August 1963, both CH-3Bs and crews from Malmstrom
were sent to Swift Strike III Exercise in North Carolina. At the close of the
Swift Strike III operation, the two CH-3Bs TDY to Malmstrom
returned there 22 Aug 1963 with minimum crew for interim until crews PCS to
continue operation and until new CH-3Cs delivered to SAC at Malmstrom
AFB for Minuteman Missile Site Support. Two CH-3C’s
were assigned to Malmstrom AFB in late 1963.

In the
"early days" the helicopter would carry missile crewmembers to and
from the distant Launch Control Facilities (LCF) for their tour of duty. The
Missile crewmembers later rejected the helicopter transport because of late
arrivals and weather delays, etc, that resulted in missile crews being stuck at
the site after their duty was over.

In June
1963, Bell won a US Air Force contract for a helicopter to perform missile site
support duties resulting in the "UH-1F", a derivative of the UH-1B.
The UH-1F had the 14.63 meter (48 foot) diameter rotor and a General Electric
(GE) T58-GE-3 turboshaft engine with 963 kW (1,290
SHP). The GE engine was selected in favor of the Lycoming because the Air Force
had an overstock of GE T58s and wanted to make use of them. The first UH-1F
flew on 20 February 1964 with deliveries beginning in September 1964. A total
of 146 were built.

In the
early 1970's the "Hueys" mission evolved
more into security checks of missile sites. A pilot would take a couple of Security
Police around to sites to complete security checks that were not accomplished
during the night patrol. You would stay out until you got your allotted 7 hours
of flying time before returning to base. (Actually SAC was trying to justify
their helicopter fleet). Also about this time the need for additional security
for convoys carrying missiles became a new job due to civil unrest in some
areas and the fear of confrontations with militant and anti-war groups while enroute. A helicopter would fly airborne security patrol
over the convoy to report any sign of problems and carried several Security
Police just in case.

By the
mid-70's, the "F" models had logged a lot of flying hours and the fleet
was getting tired. Some had up to 10,000 hours on the airframeIn the mid1970's the U.S. Air Force received
the twin engine UH-1N to replace the UH-1F's.

Strategic Air Command

Missile Support 1972

Serving in
the Strategic Air Command (SAC) there are many different flying specialties
working together to foster a safe, professional operation.

The
Strategic Air Command recognizes its helicopter pilots. The helicopter force is
made up of CH-3 and UH-1 pilots. There are 168 chopper pilots in the command
operating from 10 different bases, additionally there are 9 helicopter pilots
at headquarters level.

Bases are
as follows:

341st SMW, Malmstrom AFB MT (UH-1F) 22
pilots.

5th BW, Minot AFB, ND (UH-1F) 15 pilots.

28th BW, Ellsworth AFB, SD (UH-1F) 16 pilots.

351st SMW, Whiteman AFB, MO (UH-1F) 9 pilots.

319th BW, Grand Forks, ND (UH-1F) 13 pilots.

90th SMW, F.E. Warren AFB, WY (UH-1F) 29 pilots.

100th SRW, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
(UH-1F) 9 pilots.

381st SMW, McConnell AFB, KS (UH-1F) 7 pilots.

1 STRAD, Vandenburg AFB, CA (UH-1F) 10
pilots.

308th SMW, Little Rock AFB, AR (UH-1F) 7 pilots.

100th SRW, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
(CH-3C) 27 pilots.

15th Air Force, March AFB, CA - 2 pilots.

1st CEG, Barksdale AFB, LA - 4 pilots.

Hq
SAC, Offutt AFB, NE - 3 pilots.

------------------------------

In 1974 the
SAC helicopters were assigned to Military Airlift Command (MAC). The aircraft
and crews stayed in place at their respective bases and still accomplished the
missile support role while picking up a Rescue (ARS) mission.

With the
START treaty between the US and Russia in 1991, the missile arsenal was
downsized and only 3 bases now have ICBM’s, ie Minot
AFB, Malmstrom AFB, and F.E.Warren
AFB.

Now, in 2014, the
UH-1N's still perform their dual mission at the missile bases.

On
1 August 2014, the 3 remaining squadrons flying the UH-1N in support of the
USAF intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) force ( 37th HS, 40th HS and 54th HS ) were merged into a
single unified command, based at FE Warren AFB, Wyoming,
named 20th Air Force Helicopter Operations Group (20th AF HOG).

Note:
The Silo Cover, Control Room, and Titan Missile photos were taken at the Titan
Missile Museum south of Tucson, AZ. The Titian sites were supported by CH-3Cs
and Hueys from Davis-Monthan
AFB. For anyone interested in this mission, this museum is well worth visiting.
It is the only Titan Missile Site Museum in the US.